It was my first day in Florida. I had my friends’ address punched into my GPS so I could get to their house. They had little to no idea I was coming. It was the week after I had been published for the first time, see? Two years prior I had promised my friend, Jake, I would fly to Florida and visit them when I got published.
Jake no doubt remembered but he may not have known I had been published. The GPS told me to turn right and I would be at my destination. I did so and as I did I shut it off. Slowly, I reached out to my phone as I parked my car and called Jake. “Hey, Kel.” he said when he answered.
“Do me a favor.” I couldn’t help smile when I heard his voice.
I shut the car off and undid my seatbelt. “Sure.” he said. “What is it?”
“Look out your window.” I said, opening my car door.
“How is that a favor? It’s just boring as…” he paused for a second and the phone hit the floor. “LOOK OUTSIDE!” I heard him yell at the others.
Feet trampled to the window and I looked up, waving at the faces. The front door swung open and Jake ran outside. “Is it seriously, really you, Kel?” he asked.
“In the flesh and blood, Jakey.” I smiled.
He stood there, simply stunned. I walked towards him, smiling and hugged him tightly. I felt him wrap his arms around my waist and hug me back. “Merry Christmas.” I told him.
“Merry Christmas.” he whispered.
He took a step back and smiled again. Kurt and Rebekka followed him out the door. I looked up at Kurt and hugged Rebekka. She hugged me back and seemed to be nearly as happy as Jake was. Awkwardly, I held out my hand to shake Kurt’s. I was pleasantly surprised when he hugged me as well. The only thing about Kurt was… he was the one who had gotten to admit I liked Jake.
I hugged him back and then Iggy, Meggin, Kate, and everyone else who walked out the door, even if I didn’t know their names. They were all just so happy I had come. “Dinner on me.” I smiled.
“No!” Jake said. “Dinner on us.”
“I have to tell you all something.” I smiled and rocked back and forth on my heels as I spoke.
“Then tell us!” Kurt said, with a laugh.
“Nope. Not until y’all let me buy dinner.” I said.
Everyone looked at Jake. He seemed to hesitate before agreeing. “Good!” I said and ran to my car again.
“Not now, right? It’s only two.” Jake said.
“I know. I have something for all y’all.” I smiled and pulled out my book bag.
It was my Slytherin messenger bag. I’d been using it for a book bag for two years and now it held a surprise for my friends. “Come on in.” Iggy said, smiling and glancing at Jake.
I looked at Jake as well, feeling my face flush I looked down and walked towards Iggy. Rebekka was right behind me and then Jake and Kurt followed. “Is everyone here?” I asked.
“Yeah, but not for long.” Kurt said.
“Then let me get straight to it,” I said opening my messenger bag and pulling out the top, crudely wrapped parcel, “this one is for Jake…”
I looked at him and held it out towards him. “Open it!” Rebekka said.
He looked at me curiously and opened it. Inside it was a book without a book jacket on it. Jake lifted the cover and looked at the writing on the very first page. “To Jake, I kept my first promise. Love, Kel.” I had written on the page.
Frantically he flipped it to the cover page and saw my name. “Oh my gosh!” he said. “You got published!”
I nodded and turned red. He smiled and hugged me again. “I’m sure I’ll love it.” he said.
“I hope so.” I said and reached into my bag.
Next I withdrew another smaller parcel, still crudely wrapped and handed it to Kurt. “That’s for you to read to Carol.” I smiled.
He opened it and took out a small leather bound book. “Thanks, Kel. When she gets old enough to appreciate it, I’m sure she’ll love it.” he smiled.
“I hope she will. I wrote it just for her.” I smiled and took out another parcel. “This one is yours.”
I handed Kurt the second package and then passed out the rest. “Don’t open these until Christmas.” I smiled. “I’m staying at the hotel down the street so either you all can come to me or I can come to you, if I’m welcome to spend Christmas with y’all.”
Jake smiled and nodded. “You can come here.” he said.
I looked down and turned scarlet again. His voice was still adorable to me, and I’d only heard it once over the phone. Rebekka elbowed me and smiled. “Someone’s a little red in the face…” she said.
“Oh hush, Bekka!” I smiled back, turning redder.
“Oh, you know you love me!” she laughed.
“Like a sister.” I smiled.
They walked over and put their presents under their tree. “Why didn’t you call?” Jake asked.
“I did…” I said raising an eyebrow.
“I mean before you came. We could have cleaned out the guest room.” he told me.
“I didn’t come to be burden, Jakey.”
The others were slowly edging out of the room, thinking they were unnoticed. “Kelsey! Don’t forget you wanted to go bowling!” Bekka yelled before disappearing completely.
“You bowl?” Jake asked.
I nodded slightly, smiling. “I was on my school’s team for four years.”
He smile brightened. “So I’ll be bowling against someone who has a fighting chance?”
“Absolutely… not.” I laughed.
He sighed and shook head. “What am I gonna do with you, Kel?”
“I dunno… What are you gonna do with me?”
“Bowl?”
“Sounds like a date!” I said and covered my mouth. “I mean plan.”
He turned scarlet and looked down. “I like the first one better.”
I looked up at him and smiled, my dark brown hair falling into my eyes. “You’re cute when you blush.” I whispered quietly.
He smiled and towards me. “So, do you want to go bowling or was she just doing that for conversation sake?”
“Probably the second, but yes I would love to go bowling.”
I looked around the room and realized that they had all left. He was grabbing a jacket and I was thinking about a conversation we had had two years before. “I still owe you something.” I said.
“No you don’t. You kept your promise to come when you got published.” he said.
“There was another one. I promised that if I ever came to Florida, or you to Illinois then I would dance with you.”
He turned scarlet again. “You remembered that?”
“Of course I did. I wasn’t sure if you did though.” I smiled and ran my fingers through his short, blondish brown hair.
He smiled and hugged me again, like I’d disappear any second. I smiled and hugged him back, not wanting to let go either. A camera flashed and I looked up, seeing Bekka in the door. “Aw, you two are so cute!” she exclaimed.
I dropped my eyes to floor and turned red again. Jake was smiling still. Lord how I loved his smile. Slowly I lifted my eyes, and saw his beautiful brown eyes, staring back into my blue eyes. “You have really pretty eyes.” I whispered.
He smiled and kissed my cheek lightly. “You do to.” he said.
I smiled and blushed again. “So bowling?” I asked.
He nodded and walked towards the door. I followed him slowly and smiled. “Let’s take my rental car.” I said.
He nodded and opened the door for me. I turned scarlet and walked out, waiting for him just beyond the door. Jake came out and closed the door behind him. A smile spread across my face as put my arm through his and walked towards my car. “You know how to get there?” I asked.
“Sure, I do. Want me to drive?” he asked.
I nodded slightly and smiled. “Since I don’t know my way around here, it would be a good idea.”
We got in the car and he backed out of the driveway. The rental place had rented me Ford Focus. It was an automatic so I had an easy time driving it. He put his arm on the arm rest in between the seats and I took his hand gently. I saw a smile dance across his lips as I did. “You sure you won’t have a chance?” he asked.
“I’m positive. From how Bekka made it sound, you are good, or at least better than an average of one hundred.” I said with a laugh.
He shook his head, smiling. “You can do better than that if you really tried.” he told me.
“You haven’t seen me bowl.” I told him, looking at him out of the corner of my eye.
“I’ll help you, if you want.”
“I couldn’t ask for that, Jakey. I wouldn’t want to be a bother.”
“It’s not a bother, Kel. I swear.”
I looked down at my feet as he drove. He still held my hand in his until he went to turn into the bowling alley. When he let go of my hand it was cold, unlike when he had been holding it. Then it had been warm. He parked the car near the door and I opened my car door and stood from the passenger seat.
I walked to the front of the car and slipped my arm through his, smiling brightly. He looked at me and smiled softly. My face flushed red again as I met his eyes. “Your eyes…. are really blue.” he said.
I smiled and hugged his arm to me. “Thanks.” I said turning scarlet again.
Never in my life had I been so shy, but in the moment I was. Because of this one, amazing guy. It had been two years, seven hundred and thirty three days to be exact, since I told him that I liked him. “Is the bowling alley even open on Christmas Eve?” I asked suddenly.
He looked like he had to think about that for a second. Then he laughed. “I completely forgot today was Christmas Eve.” he said and looked at me. “What should we do now?”
My face lit up with enthusiasm. “I have an idea! Get in the car, no questions asked.” I smiled and let go of his arm and got in the driver’s side of the car.
He shrugged and got in the passenger side. Slowly I pulled out of the parking lot and took his hand again. “Where…” he started.
“No questions. Close your eyes.” I said.
He sighed and closed his eyes. “Do you know where you are going?” he asked.
“No, but Tom Tom does.” I said and turned on the GPS.
“Whose this Tom Tom you’re talking about?” he asked, sounding hurt.
He let go of my hand and turned his head towards the window. “Uh… My GPS… It’s a Tom Tom.” I told him.
He laughed and shook his head. “I so knew that.” he told me.
“Jacob Joshua Morazzano, were you jealous of my GPS?” I giggled quietly.
“Psh, no.” he said taking my hand again.
I smiled and turned when the GPS told me to and pulled into another parking lot. It surprised me how close my hotel had been to the bowling alley. Jake and I got out, and I told him to keep his eyes closed. Gently I took his arm after I grabbed my bag from the backseat.
I led him inside and had him wait while I checked in quietly. The manager handed me my key and led me to the master suite. He opened the door for me and I handed him a tip. I took Jake’s hand and led him into the room. Gently I sat him on the bed. “Keep your eyes closed!” I said and walked into the bathroom with my bag.
Quickly, quietly, I changed into my dress. I hadn’t thought I would wear it that day, but I figured since the alley was closed, it was as good a time as any. Besides, I had taken two. When I had changed into it I walked back into the room and turned on my cell phone. In a matter of seconds I found the song I was looking for and plugged into the stereo that was next to the TV.
I took Jake’s hand in mine and pulled him up. Smiling, I pressed play and wrapped my arms around his neck and whispered, “Open your eyes.”
His arms curled around my waist before he even opened his eyes. “You didn’t have to.” he whispered.
“I know… I wanted to.” I told him.
I closed my eyes and rested my head against his chest. We slow danced to Lonestar’s Amazed. It was the moment I didn’t want to end. The song ended, but still… we danced.
Jake no doubt remembered but he may not have known I had been published. The GPS told me to turn right and I would be at my destination. I did so and as I did I shut it off. Slowly, I reached out to my phone as I parked my car and called Jake. “Hey, Kel.” he said when he answered.
“Do me a favor.” I couldn’t help smile when I heard his voice.
I shut the car off and undid my seatbelt. “Sure.” he said. “What is it?”
“Look out your window.” I said, opening my car door.
“How is that a favor? It’s just boring as…” he paused for a second and the phone hit the floor. “LOOK OUTSIDE!” I heard him yell at the others.
Feet trampled to the window and I looked up, waving at the faces. The front door swung open and Jake ran outside. “Is it seriously, really you, Kel?” he asked.
“In the flesh and blood, Jakey.” I smiled.
He stood there, simply stunned. I walked towards him, smiling and hugged him tightly. I felt him wrap his arms around my waist and hug me back. “Merry Christmas.” I told him.
“Merry Christmas.” he whispered.
He took a step back and smiled again. Kurt and Rebekka followed him out the door. I looked up at Kurt and hugged Rebekka. She hugged me back and seemed to be nearly as happy as Jake was. Awkwardly, I held out my hand to shake Kurt’s. I was pleasantly surprised when he hugged me as well. The only thing about Kurt was… he was the one who had gotten to admit I liked Jake.
I hugged him back and then Iggy, Meggin, Kate, and everyone else who walked out the door, even if I didn’t know their names. They were all just so happy I had come. “Dinner on me.” I smiled.
“No!” Jake said. “Dinner on us.”
“I have to tell you all something.” I smiled and rocked back and forth on my heels as I spoke.
“Then tell us!” Kurt said, with a laugh.
“Nope. Not until y’all let me buy dinner.” I said.
Everyone looked at Jake. He seemed to hesitate before agreeing. “Good!” I said and ran to my car again.
“Not now, right? It’s only two.” Jake said.
“I know. I have something for all y’all.” I smiled and pulled out my book bag.
It was my Slytherin messenger bag. I’d been using it for a book bag for two years and now it held a surprise for my friends. “Come on in.” Iggy said, smiling and glancing at Jake.
I looked at Jake as well, feeling my face flush I looked down and walked towards Iggy. Rebekka was right behind me and then Jake and Kurt followed. “Is everyone here?” I asked.
“Yeah, but not for long.” Kurt said.
“Then let me get straight to it,” I said opening my messenger bag and pulling out the top, crudely wrapped parcel, “this one is for Jake…”
I looked at him and held it out towards him. “Open it!” Rebekka said.
He looked at me curiously and opened it. Inside it was a book without a book jacket on it. Jake lifted the cover and looked at the writing on the very first page. “To Jake, I kept my first promise. Love, Kel.” I had written on the page.
Frantically he flipped it to the cover page and saw my name. “Oh my gosh!” he said. “You got published!”
I nodded and turned red. He smiled and hugged me again. “I’m sure I’ll love it.” he said.
“I hope so.” I said and reached into my bag.
Next I withdrew another smaller parcel, still crudely wrapped and handed it to Kurt. “That’s for you to read to Carol.” I smiled.
He opened it and took out a small leather bound book. “Thanks, Kel. When she gets old enough to appreciate it, I’m sure she’ll love it.” he smiled.
“I hope she will. I wrote it just for her.” I smiled and took out another parcel. “This one is yours.”
I handed Kurt the second package and then passed out the rest. “Don’t open these until Christmas.” I smiled. “I’m staying at the hotel down the street so either you all can come to me or I can come to you, if I’m welcome to spend Christmas with y’all.”
Jake smiled and nodded. “You can come here.” he said.
I looked down and turned scarlet again. His voice was still adorable to me, and I’d only heard it once over the phone. Rebekka elbowed me and smiled. “Someone’s a little red in the face…” she said.
“Oh hush, Bekka!” I smiled back, turning redder.
“Oh, you know you love me!” she laughed.
“Like a sister.” I smiled.
They walked over and put their presents under their tree. “Why didn’t you call?” Jake asked.
“I did…” I said raising an eyebrow.
“I mean before you came. We could have cleaned out the guest room.” he told me.
“I didn’t come to be burden, Jakey.”
The others were slowly edging out of the room, thinking they were unnoticed. “Kelsey! Don’t forget you wanted to go bowling!” Bekka yelled before disappearing completely.
“You bowl?” Jake asked.
I nodded slightly, smiling. “I was on my school’s team for four years.”
He smile brightened. “So I’ll be bowling against someone who has a fighting chance?”
“Absolutely… not.” I laughed.
He sighed and shook head. “What am I gonna do with you, Kel?”
“I dunno… What are you gonna do with me?”
“Bowl?”
“Sounds like a date!” I said and covered my mouth. “I mean plan.”
He turned scarlet and looked down. “I like the first one better.”
I looked up at him and smiled, my dark brown hair falling into my eyes. “You’re cute when you blush.” I whispered quietly.
He smiled and towards me. “So, do you want to go bowling or was she just doing that for conversation sake?”
“Probably the second, but yes I would love to go bowling.”
I looked around the room and realized that they had all left. He was grabbing a jacket and I was thinking about a conversation we had had two years before. “I still owe you something.” I said.
“No you don’t. You kept your promise to come when you got published.” he said.
“There was another one. I promised that if I ever came to Florida, or you to Illinois then I would dance with you.”
He turned scarlet again. “You remembered that?”
“Of course I did. I wasn’t sure if you did though.” I smiled and ran my fingers through his short, blondish brown hair.
He smiled and hugged me again, like I’d disappear any second. I smiled and hugged him back, not wanting to let go either. A camera flashed and I looked up, seeing Bekka in the door. “Aw, you two are so cute!” she exclaimed.
I dropped my eyes to floor and turned red again. Jake was smiling still. Lord how I loved his smile. Slowly I lifted my eyes, and saw his beautiful brown eyes, staring back into my blue eyes. “You have really pretty eyes.” I whispered.
He smiled and kissed my cheek lightly. “You do to.” he said.
I smiled and blushed again. “So bowling?” I asked.
He nodded and walked towards the door. I followed him slowly and smiled. “Let’s take my rental car.” I said.
He nodded and opened the door for me. I turned scarlet and walked out, waiting for him just beyond the door. Jake came out and closed the door behind him. A smile spread across my face as put my arm through his and walked towards my car. “You know how to get there?” I asked.
“Sure, I do. Want me to drive?” he asked.
I nodded slightly and smiled. “Since I don’t know my way around here, it would be a good idea.”
We got in the car and he backed out of the driveway. The rental place had rented me Ford Focus. It was an automatic so I had an easy time driving it. He put his arm on the arm rest in between the seats and I took his hand gently. I saw a smile dance across his lips as I did. “You sure you won’t have a chance?” he asked.
“I’m positive. From how Bekka made it sound, you are good, or at least better than an average of one hundred.” I said with a laugh.
He shook his head, smiling. “You can do better than that if you really tried.” he told me.
“You haven’t seen me bowl.” I told him, looking at him out of the corner of my eye.
“I’ll help you, if you want.”
“I couldn’t ask for that, Jakey. I wouldn’t want to be a bother.”
“It’s not a bother, Kel. I swear.”
I looked down at my feet as he drove. He still held my hand in his until he went to turn into the bowling alley. When he let go of my hand it was cold, unlike when he had been holding it. Then it had been warm. He parked the car near the door and I opened my car door and stood from the passenger seat.
I walked to the front of the car and slipped my arm through his, smiling brightly. He looked at me and smiled softly. My face flushed red again as I met his eyes. “Your eyes…. are really blue.” he said.
I smiled and hugged his arm to me. “Thanks.” I said turning scarlet again.
Never in my life had I been so shy, but in the moment I was. Because of this one, amazing guy. It had been two years, seven hundred and thirty three days to be exact, since I told him that I liked him. “Is the bowling alley even open on Christmas Eve?” I asked suddenly.
He looked like he had to think about that for a second. Then he laughed. “I completely forgot today was Christmas Eve.” he said and looked at me. “What should we do now?”
My face lit up with enthusiasm. “I have an idea! Get in the car, no questions asked.” I smiled and let go of his arm and got in the driver’s side of the car.
He shrugged and got in the passenger side. Slowly I pulled out of the parking lot and took his hand again. “Where…” he started.
“No questions. Close your eyes.” I said.
He sighed and closed his eyes. “Do you know where you are going?” he asked.
“No, but Tom Tom does.” I said and turned on the GPS.
“Whose this Tom Tom you’re talking about?” he asked, sounding hurt.
He let go of my hand and turned his head towards the window. “Uh… My GPS… It’s a Tom Tom.” I told him.
He laughed and shook his head. “I so knew that.” he told me.
“Jacob Joshua Morazzano, were you jealous of my GPS?” I giggled quietly.
“Psh, no.” he said taking my hand again.
I smiled and turned when the GPS told me to and pulled into another parking lot. It surprised me how close my hotel had been to the bowling alley. Jake and I got out, and I told him to keep his eyes closed. Gently I took his arm after I grabbed my bag from the backseat.
I led him inside and had him wait while I checked in quietly. The manager handed me my key and led me to the master suite. He opened the door for me and I handed him a tip. I took Jake’s hand and led him into the room. Gently I sat him on the bed. “Keep your eyes closed!” I said and walked into the bathroom with my bag.
Quickly, quietly, I changed into my dress. I hadn’t thought I would wear it that day, but I figured since the alley was closed, it was as good a time as any. Besides, I had taken two. When I had changed into it I walked back into the room and turned on my cell phone. In a matter of seconds I found the song I was looking for and plugged into the stereo that was next to the TV.
I took Jake’s hand in mine and pulled him up. Smiling, I pressed play and wrapped my arms around his neck and whispered, “Open your eyes.”
His arms curled around my waist before he even opened his eyes. “You didn’t have to.” he whispered.
“I know… I wanted to.” I told him.
I closed my eyes and rested my head against his chest. We slow danced to Lonestar’s Amazed. It was the moment I didn’t want to end. The song ended, but still… we danced.
Jakey, if you're reading this then I really hope you like it. It took me a few days to finish, and when I was working on it, I never wanted to stop. I wanted it to be out little fairytale come true.
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When I said I love you,
My heart raced, When you said you love me too, My heart stopped. |